About this collection

This collection of photographs and sketches come from the archives at the Manassas Campus Library. These images capture the building and dedication of the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. The dedication took place on May 18, 1975. Images include people, buildings, aerial views and campus plans. We have digitized these photographs in order to preserve the unique history of the Manassas Campus.

In 1965, Northern Virginia Technical College opened for classes with 761 students in the Carlyn Springs Road warehouse, located in Bailey’s Crossroads. To accommodate an ever-growing student body, the college purchased 100 acres in Manassas, Prince William County in 1967 to build one of six permanent campus sites.

The city of Manassas has a rich historical history. During the American Civil War, it was the location of the First and Second Battles of Manassas (also known as the First and Second Battles of Bull Run). Little more than a railroad crossing at the time, Manassas is now home to more than 35,000 citizens.

Originally known as the Western Campus, the Manassas Campus first offered classes in the fall of 1972. Today, the campus consists of six classroom buildings, the Innovation Park, the Mary Louise Jackson Amphitheater and the 120-seat Colgan Theater. Despite its establishment over 35 years ago, Manassas remains one of the smaller campuses, offering its students an intimate class size and more personal attention.

Among the distinctive programs offered at Manassas are the Early Childhood Education program through the Communications Technologies and Social Sciences Division and the Automotive Technology program via the Science and Applied Technologies Division.